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This story is about people who died, people who survived, a little 11month old baby, who no longer has a Mum, among others.Spare a thought for those who lost loves and homes.Think about the lucky ones.There was a half a sentance in the article about one person who said "The Lord was with us".Please let's not make this about religion.Yes people are allowed to say what the want, but I think it's time people started to think about what they say and do and how it may effect others.I'm not talking about political correctness, I'm talking about humanity treating each other with respect.Not because you have to but because you want to.We all have the right to live how we want, because God know we may only here for a short time.

Posted by: Kazza of Brisbane 4:10pm today

It's truly amazing just how five little words based on someone's faith can bring idiots out of the woodwork.So what if they're devout Christians and believe that Jesus gave them the strength (and luck) to survive? They survived. Whether or not by God's intervention is irrelevant, they survived and are grateful.

Posted by: Em of Melbourne 3:57pm today

For those just joining us, the title of this news story used to be "'The Lord was with us'", but it has since been changed to "Deadly twisters..."Those who question our tact for debating the religious side of this story need to be more "open minded" yourself.We are having our say on the "story" as such which is nothing to do with whether we feel understanding and sorrow for the people stricken down by this tragic event.I'm not certain, but in the moments and days following the tornado I don't believe the people in the affected area will be seeking out user's comments on the story searching for compassion from those they don't know.

Posted by: Aetheist of Brisbane 3:55pm today
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TORNADOES and thunderstorms have flattened the land and shattered lives across the southern  United States, killing at least 54 people and injuring more than 150 in the deadliest such storms in nine years.

In Tennessee`s Sumner County, northeast of Nashville, a tornado sucked an 11-month-old boy and his mother from their home. They were found later in a field. The child survived in good condition, but his mother was dead.

Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen has said he was shocked by the intensity and scope of a storm that "just literally sat on the ground in wide areas" along a track that was as much as 643km wide.

At Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Ferina Ferrington told a local TV reporter: "My husband and I got into the bathtub with our little girl. I remember flying through the air. It was very scary. Then it was real quiet and we saw our house was gone. Our baby was unhurt."

US President George W. Bush will travel to Tennessee later in the week to survey the storm damage and offer his support to those affected, said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.

In Arkansas where almost 500 homes and businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged in four counties, Johnny Martin, 65, gathered belongings from his brick and wood home which lay shattered beneath massive oak trees in the town of Atkins, west of Little Rock.

"We all huddled in the bathroom," Martin said of his wife, mother-in-law and other family members. "I was standing at first at the front door when I heard it ... The Lord was with us."

Hardest hit were Tennessee - where 30 people died - Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama.

There were unconfirmed reports of 69 tornadoes swirling across those states and northward into Indiana, according to the National Storm Prediction Centre in Norman, Oklahoma.

The death toll rivaled that of a series of tornadoes in May 1999 in Oklahoma, Texas and other states, when about 50 people were killed, the center said. Tornadoes typically kill about 70 people in the United States each year.

The weather service and state officials said that in addition to the 30 killed in Tennessee, there were 13 dead in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama. Injuries were widespread, with 149 people hurt in Tennessee alone.

"We know of eight dead and are still looking," said Shelvy Linville, mayor of Lafayette, Tennessee. "There`s a lot of devastation."

Power outages were widespread. One tornado struck the Columbia Gulf Transmission company in Hartsville, Tennessee, and set off a natural gas fire that lit up the early morning sky, officials said.

Kentucky governor Steve Beshear described to CNN a trail of devastation in his state seen from the air.

"In the path of it there is nothing left and on either side of it things are standing just like nothing has happened. It`s an amazing picture to see."

Inspection of the damage began a few hours after the last tornado was reported in Jackson County, northeastern Alabama, the weather service said. Forecasters have said there is no longer a threat of severe weather across the region.

In Alabama, Tina Johnson, 41, of Pinhook, said she watched from her house as a tornado tore apart her barn.

"The lightning and rain started back up suddenly and then we could see the funnel cloud through the lightning," she said. "The preacher`s brick house across the street was destroyed and a mobile home nearby was nothing but a few pieces of tin."

Kentucky National Guard spokesman David Altom said about 50 soldiers were deployed and others on standby. "The mission right now is to protect the damaged homes from looting," he said.

The White House said Mr Bush had called the governors of the affected states offering them consolation and support.

Mississippi reported no deaths but about 11 injuries after two tornadoes ripped across an industrial park, seriously damaging a Caterpillar factory, and farm communities north of the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford.

In Jackson, Tennessee, a tornado damaged most of the student housing at Union University, injuring more than 50 students, though none of the injuries was life threatening.

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Today`s Top Picks

Ledger`s death an accident

HEATH Ledger died from an "accidental overdose" of prescription drugs, an investigation concludes.
In-depth: Photos, tributes & more

Font size: +-

Send this article:PrintEmail

Have Your Say

Latest Comments:

This story is about people who died, people who survived, a little 11month old baby, who no longer has a Mum, among others.Spare a thought for those who lost loves and homes.Think about the lucky ones.There was a half a sentance in the article about one person who said "The Lord was with us".Please let's not make this about religion.Yes people are allowed to say what the want, but I think it's time people started to think about what they say and do and how it may effect others.I'm not talking about political correctness, I'm talking about humanity treating each other with respect.Not because you have to but because you want to.We all have the right to live how we want, because God know we may only here for a short time.

Posted by: Kazza of Brisbane 4:10pm today

It's truly amazing just how five little words based on someone's faith can bring idiots out of the woodwork.So what if they're devout Christians and believe that Jesus gave them the strength (and luck) to survive? They survived. Whether or not by God's intervention is irrelevant, they survived and are grateful.

Posted by: Em of Melbourne 3:57pm today

For those just joining us, the title of this news story used to be "'The Lord was with us'", but it has since been changed to "Deadly twisters..."Those who question our tact for debating the religious side of this story need to be more "open minded" yourself.We are having our say on the "story" as such which is nothing to do with whether we feel understanding and sorrow for the people stricken down by this tragic event.I'm not certain, but in the moments and days following the tornado I don't believe the people in the affected area will be seeking out user's comments on the story searching for compassion from those they don't know.

Posted by: Aetheist of Brisbane 3:55pm today
Read all 25 comments

We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Please provide your full name. We also require a working email address - not for publication, but for verification. The location field is optional.Read our publication guidelines.

Submit your feedback here:

(So you don`t have to retype your details each timeyou send feedback.)

Search for more stories on this topic on Newstext, our news archive service. Click here

Also in World

Video

Ledger`s family back in OzWatch this Video NOW!
Ledger`s family back in Oz

THE actor`s family have returned home from LA to bury their son in his hometown of Perth this week.

Latest videos

More Video

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Love & Relationships - Find a date near you on Match.com - # 1 Online Dating site Worldwide.
 
Virgin Mobile Cheap calls & text across Australia.
 
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